Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-06-02
Ouay's Threat.

United States Senator and Secretary Of
State Quay has made very notable state
ment at Harrisburg in connection with ths
failure Of the revenue bill, which he say.
quite possibly failed from sinister action
and he takes occasion to declare that he
and those who act with him are not content
with the favor shown to corporations in the
supreme court decisions, and that they pro-
pose to change the court; the removal OF
two members only being needed, one OF
whom will be taken out this year and the
other next year; meaning Judges MercuI
and Gordon.
That talk, if 1t came from q politician of
ordinary standing, would have little signiG
cance, because it is of sort that men are
wont to indulge in; but coming from q
leader OF Quay's prominence 1t is signifl.
can't. tbs generally supposed that he has
large power to do what he threatens;
and when he thus raises his voice against
the supreme court, against corporations
and against sinister legislation, it is more
than the voice Of the idle wind.
But while realizing this, We are not at
al bound to believe in the sincerity ,f
Quay's declarations. They have evidently
been made with malice aforethought.
Apparently Judges Mercur and Gordon
arc to have the hatchet. Seemingly Quay
bseeking cover under an anti-corporation
blanket. But that he should abuse Off.
Gers Of the legislature for sinister action
and the supreme court for corporation sub
serviency, while it may be a sign that he
proposes to turn over q new leaf, is such
an obvious case of Satan reproving sin that
We may be permitted to doubt whether it
- one OF sincere conversion.
And we doubt still more when we note the
injustice of the aspersion upon the supreme
court Of the state. We have in past years
found that this court was very subseryient to
corporation influences but of late years it
has been far less SO and Judge Gordon,
whom Quay marks out for slaughter, has
bean Judge of marked independence and
honesty. We cannot say that Chief JUS.
uce Mercur has not been an undue friend
OF corporation interests, for he has seemed
20 be and II Mr.. Quay, and his friends de.
elre TO show their hostility to corporations.
tney can DO it by dropping the chief Justice
VINO certainly has not been their enemy.
But the interesting question is as N
what Quay Is driving at. Very few peon,a
Will give him credit for sincerity in hi,
new role Of corporation hater, It ia .n
obvious fact that it is q popular crv 70
make and it Is just possible that On.v
being safely seated as senator for six years
nay b aiming to tack with the Republi,
eea ship on to the Democratic course, and
lkive to take the wind out of our sails, So
oudden wrench of the old bark will be
jlk1ly TO shiver its timbers; and We await
With curiosity the effect of the new depart.
mo upon tho crew. The old stagers
VIII be cautious about changing their
moorings; for they know well enough that
their party has no 60 In 1t except as the
eosporation boat. After the demonstra.
Ton made by the last Legislature of its
usesr subserviency to Standard and Trsc.
taoa influences, 1t 10 hopeless for it to seek
. convince the public that it is as virtuous
, Senator Quay paints himself and his
niends. IL be Is 20 stout foe of corpora.
- now, 1t - pity that his conversion |
- not come . little earlier 10 that he
~ have aved bis psrty's record in the
as1Ie that has just gone and the |
~ With It.